BLET News
Senate Commerce Committee holds hearing for STB, NTSB nominees
Congress returned from a holiday recess last week. Prior to Thanksgiving, the Senate Commerce Committee held a hearing to consider three nominees to positions at federal agencies that have oversight of the rail industry. Richard Kloster was nominated to be a member of...
BLET members ratify new contract with SEPTA
BLET locomotive engineers who operate regional rail trains for SEPTA have ratified a new one-year contract with the transit agency. Ballots were counted on December 11. The new agreement builds upon gains achieved in the previous round of negotiations and provides a...
BLET members ratify new contract on CPKC Soo Line territory
BLET has ratified a new five-year agreement with the CPKC for locomotive engineers who work on the CPKC Soo Line territory. Ballots were tabulated on December 11. The deal provides general wage increases of 17.5 percent (18.8 percent compounded) over the life of the...
BLET reaches tentative agreement with NYSW
The BLET has reached a tentative agreement with the New York, Susquehanna & Western Railway (NYSW). Ballots were mailed in late November. If ratified, the tentative agreement would provide wage increases and work rule improvements. Additionally, if ratified, NYSW...
BLET members at CN-IC donating bicycles to kids in need this holiday season
From left: Division 827 Local Chairman William Lafferty and Division 914 Local Chairman Allen Templet Jr. selecting bicycles to donate. ____________________ BLET members who work for the Canadian National-Illinois Central (CN-IC) are in the giving spirit this holiday...
Ballots mailed to 12,000+ members as voting begins on tentative national contract
Voting is now underway as BLET members will make their voices heard on the tentative national agreement reached October 30 with 10 freight railroads represented by the National Carriers Conference Committee (NCCC). Ballots were mailed today (December 5) to 12,000+...
Virtual Town Hall meetings set for December 9 to review tentative national agreement
The BLET will host two Zoom Town Hall meetings on December 9 to discuss the tentative national agreement. National President Mark Wallace will outline the agreement’s provisions and provide background on the negotiating process.
BLET’s Ray Vigil named to New Jersey governor-elect’s transition team
Ray Vigil (left) will serve on the Transition Action Team of New Jersey Governor-Elect Mikie Sherill (right). ____________________ Ray Vigil, Chairman of the BLET’s New Jersey State Legislative Board, has been appointed by Governor-Elect Mikie Sherrill to serve on her...
Governor Shapiro authorizes $219.9 million in one-time capital emergency funding for SEPTA regional rail
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro announces the emergency funding to be immediately directed toward SEPTA's safety issues and repairs. SEPTA photo ____________________ Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro ordered that $219.9 million from the state’s transportation...
Secretary-Treasurer refresher courses available via Zoom in December
The BLET National Division Education & Training Department will host an End-of-Year Secretary-Treasurer Refresher Training Class. This session is designed to review year-end reporting requirements, compliance deadlines, and provide a first look at our new...
Attention all CPKC Soo Line and SEPTA members: Replacement ballots are now available
The telephone hotline to request replacement ballots is now open for two separate ratification votes currently underway. The first is for BLET members who work on the CPKC Soo Line territory and the second is for BLET members at SEPTA. Ballots and voting instructions...
National Legislative Board concludes annual meeting
From left: Amit Bose, Brendan Sullivan, Richard Barnett, Ryan Snow, Herbert Harris Jr., Gary Best, Mark Wallace, Vince Verna, Shane Hubbard, Chuck Schulz, David Estes, Alex Beckmann, and Cole Scandaglia. ____________________ The BLET National Legislative Board (NLB)...
Train crews drive resurgence at Amtrak as trains sell out ahead of Thanksgiving holiday rush
Amtrak's recent surge in ticket sales are thanks in large part to the hard work and dedication of the train crews including BLET members. Amtrak photo ____________________ Amtrak trains are selling out from coast to coast thanks in part to surging demand for...
Division 301 in Roanoke marks 140th anniversary
BLET Division 301 in Roanoke was chartered on November 17, 1885. Members celebrated their Division's 140th anniversary at a Division meeting earlier in this month where they wore t-shirts designed by Local Chairman Patrick Jennings. ____________________ In 1885,...
BLET backing efforts to secure funding for Caltrain, other mass transit agencies
The BLET is backing efforts to place a funding measure on the November 2026 ballot that would help keep the trains rolling at Caltrain. Photo courtesy of Caltrain ____________________ Commuter railroad Caltrain and other public transit agencies in the San Francisco...
One year later, Division 13 member Tony Ramos continues battle with brain cancer; Fundraiser set for La Crosse on December 4
Brother Tony Ramos, an Air Force veteran, was invited to attend a Wisconsin Badgers football game in November where he was presented with a game ball in recognition of his year-long battle with brain cancer. ____________________ It’s been one year since BLET member...
LIRR unions in NMB public interest hearing tell labor board that PEB recommendations are a foundation for reaching a settlement
On Monday, November 17, the National Mediation Board (NMB) held a “Public Interest Hearing” at its offices in Washington to assess if either the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) or a coalition of five rail unions that includes BLET would accept the recommendations of...
National Transportation Safety Board issues two safety advisories directed at conductors and other rail workers
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) issued two safety alerts in November regarding rail operations: the first addressed the risks of shoving moves, and the second concerned the dangers of unexpected equipment moves. The BLET Safety Task Force urges all...
BLET members ratify five-year deal with WNYP
On November 11, BLET members ratified a new five-year agreement with the Western New York & Pennsylvania Railroad (WNYP), governing rates of pay, benefits, and work rules. The agreement runs through 2030 and provides for a guaranteed 40-hour work week, a signing...
BLET reaches tentative agreement with SEPTA
The BLET has reached a tentative one-year deal with SEPTA for locomotive engineers who operate regional rail trains for the transit agency. Ballots were mailed last week. If ratified by the members, the deal would build upon gains achieved in the previous round of...
Daily Headlines
UP, NS shareholders support $85 billion merger
The U.S. Surface Transportation Board must still approve it before the deal can be completed.
NTSB releases preliminary report on fatal accident involving BLET member working as a BNSF conductor
The worker killed was identified as 52-year-old Daniel Peterson of Billings, Mont., a member of BLET Division 232 (Laurel, Montana).
CN reports Q3 2025 results
CN reported that its net income was C$1,139 million in Q3 2025, an increase of C$54 million, or 5%.
CPCK reports Q3 2025 results
Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) announced its third-quarter results, including revenues of $3.7 billion.
BNSF reports Q3 2025 results
The railway’s operating ratio was 64.1%, a 1-point improvement over a year ago.
Union Pacific reports Q3 2025 results
Union Pacific Corporation reported 2025 third quarter net income of $1.8 billion, or $3.01 per diluted share. Results include merger costs of $41 million, or $0.07 per diluted share.
Norfolk Southern reports Q3 2025 results
For the quarter, revenue was $3.1 billion, income from railway operations was $1.1 billion, operating ratio was 64.6%, and diluted earnings per share were $3.16.
CSX reports Q3 2025 results
CSX Corp. announced third quarter operating income of $1.09 billion and net earnings of $694 million, or $0.37 per share. In the third quarter of 2024, the company reported operating income of $1.35 billion and net earnings of $894 million, or $0.46 per share.
Railroads spurn C3RS, a safety system designed to prevent accidents
Class I freight railroads incorrectly assume a punitive approach to safety gets the best results.
NS agrees to give Amtrak highest priority over freight trains and make its delay records for Amtrak trains available to the DOJ
As a result of the settlement, the Justice Department has moved to dismiss its lawsuit against Norfolk Southern.
